6 must know tips to survive on a student budget

Every student knows the value of money and how easy it is to spend it all. We students are starting to learn the value of money and want to make our money go as far as possible. Looking for ways to save our money and invest it in the right places is very important to us. Thank god there are retailers out there who offer student discounts and it really makes a difference.

Living on a student budget is harder than you think. Your maintenance loan and any grants or bursaries you are eligible for can definitely help, but if you don’t spend them wisely you can run into difficulties. Times are hard economically and the prices of items are rising. So many of us are already feeling the effects including students.

1] Use your student card

When you go to university you will get your student card. You can use this to get discounts on items when out shopping or ordering online. Make sure you ask every shop you visit if they offer student discounts. Online retailers like Amazon and ASOS offer discounts to students so make sure your on the look out. These discounts can really help save money and they range from 10% upwards.

Food is something that should not be skimped on. You should eat well and you need it to make sure you get through a tough day of studying. If you watch shows like Shop well for less you will notice that sometimes supermarket own brand items are sometimes better than branded items. That is the case for things like crisps, cleaning products and the like. Make sure you check the labels and compare. Try to buy in bulk as this will get you better value. Buy fruit and veg from markets as they tend to be cheaper than supermarkets. Stock up on staples like pasta, rice, tinned food, cereals etc. Go to a supermarket in the evening and see if there are reduced offers, if not ask the people working there when the times for reduced items are. Buy stuff and pop them in the freezer, that way it won’t go off and can be defrosted whenever you fancy them.

Checkout Amazon pantry and online supermarkets for delivery of food (minimum delivery may apply) or get together with friends and all of you order to meet minimum delivery criteria.

When buying books for University make sure you look online on places like Amazon. You can always find a good price on there. Books in book shops tend to be more expensive and can take a chunk out of your budget. Or head to the library to see which ones you can borrow.

4] Nights out

When going on nights out most places offer student prices for drinks, so keep a look out. You don’t alway have to go out you can stay in and watch a movie or go to the cinema with 2 for 1 offers. Get creative, you don’t always have to spend money to have a good time.

5] Utilities

If you’re in halls of residence, utilities such as gas, electricity and water are usually included as part of your rent. For private housing thats not the case. You’ll need to put aside a certain amount each month along with rent to cover utility bills. Setting up regular payments is a good way of managing the expenditure. If you’re able to, see if you could save by moving to a different energy supplier or tariff. You can compare energy suppliers online (using a free service such as USwitch or do a google search). Online deals are usually among the cheapest, plus you’ll often get an extra discount if paying by direct debit.

6] Save money where you can

Don’t buy an item if you don’t need it, ask yourself honestly if you really need it. Cut down on takeaways and cook at home it’s cheaper. Cancel your unused subscriptions and they can hack away at your student finances. Opt for a cheaper phone tariff and some providers are offering great tariffs.

Try and find a student job to make some additional income. In your Students Union building (SU), there are normally jobs boards and help available to students to help find part time jobs. Or you can check out: